National Vaccination Day 2023: On March 16, 1995, the first dose of the oral polio vaccine was given under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) campaign which started in 1988. The Vaccines are key for prevention of diseases and the viruses. Vaccines provide immunity to the body. With vaccines, several diseases and viruses like tetanus, rubella, chicken pox, polio and COVID-19 are prevented. Government of India observe 16th march as National Vaccination Day. National Vaccination Day was first celebrated in 1995 with the government launching Pulse Polio Immunisation programme to fight polio.
Oral Pulse Polio Vaccine Campaign launched by the World Health Organization in 1988, the first oral pulse vaccine was administered on 16th March, 1995. In 1998, the government also launched a campaign called Two Drops of Life to create awareness about the use of the vaccine. In this campaign oral polio vaccine was administered to children up to 5 years of age from community health centers. The last case of polio in India was confirmed in Howrah, Calcutta. This was in 2011. Later, on 27 March 2014, the World Health Organization declared India as a polio-free country.
India is now on the track to eliminate measles and rubella, having vaccinated more than 324 million children through the MR vaccination campaign. The day is observed to create awareness about the need and benefits of vaccination among children and adults. Another purpose of this day is to highlight the importance of vaccination for a healthy life. 2,20,64,71,236 doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in India.